Question

II. HUMAN RELATIONS

Topic: B. Unjust Enrichment (Civil Code, arts. 22-23 and 2142-2143)

1. Juan borrowed a considerable amount of money from his friend, Pedro, to start a business. They agreed that Juan would pay back the loan with a 10% interest within a year. However, after a few months, Juan's business became successful and he was able to repay the loan in full. Can Pedro still claim for the interest rate of 10% agreed upon?

2. Maria commissioned an artist, Carlos, to create a painting for her living room. They agreed on a price of Php 50,000 for the artwork. However, after receiving the painting, Maria found out that Carlos used unauthorized materials and techniques, resulting in a lower quality artwork. Can Maria refuse to pay the agreed price based on the principle of unjust enrichment?

3. Rosa's car was severely damaged in an accident caused by the negligence of another driver, Mark. Mark's insurance company, XYZ Insurance, paid Rosa Php 500,000 for the repairs of her car. However, instead of using the said amount for the repairs, Rosa decided to sell her damaged car and purchased a brand new car using her own money. Can XYZ Insurance claim for reimbursement of the amount they paid to Rosa based on unjust enrichment?

4. Pedro owns a vacant lot in a prime location in the city. Unknown to him, a group of squatters occupied the lot and started building houses on it. Pedro only discovered this after several months. Can Pedro claim for compensation for the use of his property based on unjust enrichment?